Electric panel enclosure with adjustable cover plate



E. E. WILLS Aug. 7, 1956 ELECTRIC PANEL ENCLOSURE WITH ADJUSTABLE COVERPLATE Filed Aug. 7, 1951 INVENTOR. [kw/v if M415 United States PatentELECTRIC PANEL ENCLOSURE WITH ADJUSTABLE COVER PLATE Ervin E. Wills,Alfton, M0., assignor to Federal Electric Products Company, Newark, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 7, 1951, Serial No.240,661

4 Claims. (Cl. 317119) This invention relates generally to wall typeinstallations of cabinets or enclosures for electric panelboards, or thelike, and in particular to an adjustable cover plate arrangementthereover.

Panelboard arrangements of the type under consideration generallyinclude a sheet metal box or enclosure containing a back plate ormounting pan adapted to mount and support a panel of circuit protectivedevices, such as for example, circuit breakers, fuses, switches,starters, etc., or any combination thereof, a door and trim or frontplate, and a shield or panel housing which completes the barrier betweenthe panel and the front plate. Where the cabinet is to be flush mountedin a wall, the box or enclosure is rdinarily set in the wall during thecourse of construction and the front plate is put in place after thefinish plaster has been completed. However, for various reasons, the boxor enclosure, after the completion of the finish plastering, isfrequently found to be out of true, being skewed in a plane parallelwith the face of the Wall or tilted in a plane which intersects thefact, or both, in addition to which it is usually impossible topredetermine accurately how far back it will be from the finish plasterline. Various expedients are known in the art to provide for aninand-out adjustment of the mounting pan to expeditiously align thecircuit protective devices with the face of the enclosure and the wallsurface to provide a plaster adjustment. Mechanisms to accomplish suchan adjustment are disclosed in the copending applications of Paul M.Christensen, Serial No. 131,956, filed December 9, 1949, now Patent No.2,599,695, and Serial No. 236,441, filed July 12, 1951, now Patent No.2,681,966, both of which are assigned to the assignee hereof. However,said adjustments do not compensate for the skewing of the box orenclosure. Consequently, the trim has often to be applied to the wallsurface in a similar skew which is undesirable. The trim cannot beplaced true without regard to the disposition of the box because of therequirement for a shield which shall form an inner cover when the dooris open, preventing access to wiring and connections and exposing onlythe necessarily accessible portions of the protective devices, such asthe handles of circuit breakers or switches. Accordingly, this shieldmust fit the electrical devices and must come up to the trim and aroundthe door opening in the trim so as to form a shallow outer enclosurebehind the door.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide trimmembers having provision to insure an accurate relation between thecircuit protective devices, the shield and the front of the cabinet.

A further object is the provision of a shield which is adjustablelaterally relative to the enclosure to compensate for the skewing of thelatter so as to expose only the necessarily accessible portions of thepanel of circuit protective devices.

Another object is the provision of a trim member or cover plate which isadjustable laterally relative to the enclosure for trueing said coverplate.

The above and other objects, features and advantages "ice of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a front cover or trim member, pursuantto the present invention, the door thereof being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view;

Fig. 3 is a front view on a larger scale, showing the front cover inposition on the enclosure, portions being broken away for purposes ofillustration;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line 55 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a portion thereof on anenlarged scale; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 7-7of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a box orenclosure 10 of any suitable type and provided as usual with knockoutsor other means for the introductions of the electrical conductors, andwith mounting apertures 11, said box being preferably formed of sheetmetal. As here shown, the rear wall 12 thereof is provided with means toadjustably mount a mounting pan or back plate 14. More specifically, theback plate is provided with four posts 166 which are received inapertures provided at the four corners of the mounting pan, conicalhelical spring members 18 being disposed on said posts between theconfronting surfaces of the pan and the back wall for biasing the pantoward the front of the enclosure. It will be understood that theforegoing adjustable mounting for the pan 14 does not, per se,constitute part of the present invention and that any suitable means maybe used for adjustably mounting the pan 14, such as for example, theadjustable mounting means as illustrated and described in both of thepreviously noted copending applications.

It will be understood that the pan 14 is provided with any suitablemeans to removably mount thereon a panel of circuit protective devicessuch as for example, and without limitation, circuit breakers, switches,fuse box, etc. As herein illustrated, the pan is adapted to mount apanel of circuit breakers 20 which are arranged thereon in two rowsextending longitudinally of the pan. It will be apparent that thesprings 18 will urge the circuit breakers 20 in a direction away fromthe rear wall 12 land, with no cover or other obstruction at the openface 22 of the box, the handles 24 and adjacent portions 26 of thecircuit breakers will normally extend outwardly of said open face of thebox.

The box 10 is provided with the peripherally inwardly extending flange28 at the front thereof, said flange being provided with the tappedapertures 30 for mounting a cover plate or trim member 32 on the box toprovide a front closure therefor. In the event that the enclosure 10 isdisposed in a skewed position when mounted in a wall recess 34,provision is made for adjusting the front cover, laterally or in its ownplane, so that the latter will nevertheless be in true verticalalignment relative to the wall. In this connection, it will be notedthat the cover is provided with a plurality of apertures 36 which are ofgreater diameter than the diameter of the screws 38 which extendtherethrough to be threaded into the apertures 30 of the enclosure.Therefore, it will be readily apparent that the cover may be laterallyadjusted, in the event that the box is askew, to provide said verticalalignment thereof. Washers 40 are provided on the cover to conceal theenlarged apertures 36 therein, whereby when the cover is secured inposition upon an enclosure which may be askew, it will not bereadilyapparent to an observer that the enclosure is askew.

It will be noted that the cover 32 is provided with a front door 42which is hinged as at 48 to provide access to the interior of theenclosure. Howevenin order to provide a safety'front for the enclosureto preventaccess to wiring and connections therein when the door' 42 isopen, provision is made, pursuant to the present invention, for a shieldor recessed barrier member 50 which is adjustable laterally, in its ownplane, relative both to the enclosure and the front cover or open frametrim member 32 and which prevents access to the interior of theenclosure arm the devices carried by the pan 14 except for thenecessarily accessible portions of said'devices, such as the handles 24of' the circuit breakers lVlore' specifically, and as'here shown, theshield is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with a flangeportion 52 which underlies'the trim member and extends completelythereabout, and with. a portion 54 which is setback or recessed from theplane of the flange portion so as to provide an abutment for engagingthe outer faces 55of the" circuit breakers. More specifically, therecessed part 54 is provided withthe vertically extending passages 5656'into which the face portions 26 of'the circuit breakers" extend toprovide the necessary access to the handles 24 which project outwardlyfrom said passages. It will be noted that the portions 52 and 54 of theshield 50 are interconnected by the portions 58 thereof so as toformashallow outer enclosure at the front ofthe enclosure 10 which iscovered by the door 42 in the trim.

with the circuit breaker portions 26, there will be gaps andspacesbetween the shield and the circuit breakers. This condition will existunless the trim member is properly and correctly aligned relative to theenclosure 10. Where the enclosure 10 is askew, and the trim member,however, is in correct vertical alignment relative to the wall aspreviously described, it will be apparent that the passages 56 willordinarily not be aligned with the circuit breaker portions 26.

It is a highly desirable feature of the present invention.

to provide for the alignment ofthe shield relative. to the electricdevices carried in the enclosure 10 regardless of. the. relativedispositions of the trim member. 32. and

the" enclosure 10: This is accomplished by providing forv the-lateral"adjustment otthe shield, in its own plane, relative to the trim memberand to the enclosure 10. Fursuant' to the present invention, the shieldis pivotally mountedlon the inner surface of the trim member 32 as bythe rivetpivot stud 59 which interengages the trim member. 32 and theunderlying flange 52 of the shield. In order; to: guide the' shield insaid pivotal movement thereof-, the; trim;member 32 is provided with theguide l116D1bfiIS?60'SCI1fdiO the. inner surface thereof as at 62fandhavingthelaterally'otfsetportions 64, the flange 52. beingdisposedbetween' said offset portions 64 and the adjacentsurfaceportions of the trim member.

itwillbe; understood that any lesser or greater number may be. providedas required. In order to accommodate the hinges 48 on the rear surfaceof the trim. member 32, the shield is provided with the portions 66struck out from-the flange thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Itwill'benoted that the shield is provided alsowith a struck out portion68. adjacentthe pivot 59 thereof to. cooperate with a lock.7 0.provided-on the inner surfaceofthe: cover As here shown, three guidemembers 60 are provided. However,

(Q. 42, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Since said portion 68 is adjacentthepivot 59-, it is substantially inthesame-positionrelative to the lock70 regardless of the pivoted position of the shield 50, whereby it isalways available for engagement by the lock. A pivoted position of theshield is illustrated in broken line in Fig. 2. Therefore, it will beapparent that even though the enclosure 10 may be askew so that the rowsof circuit breakers are also askew, the shield 50 will nevertheless beproperly'positionable so that the circuit. breaker portions 26 engage inthe passages 56 to prevent access into the interior of enclosure 10'when the door 42 is open except tothe handles 24 of the circuitbreakers.

According to the usual practice, the box or enclosure 10 is firstsecured in the wall in any suitable manner and connected to the cable orconductor system. After the plaster 35 has been completed, the pan 14may then be mounted on the supporting posts 16 and the springs 18', thecircuit breakers being mounted on the pan either before or after it ispositioned in the box. The circuit breakers may then be wired in theusual way and tested before applying the trim member 32' and the shield50'. The shield 50 is applied over the handles 24 and the screws 38'areinserted and tightened until the trim member is drawn snugly against thewall'plaster 35. As the trim member is drawn against the wall, the pan14 is pushed inwardly against the springs 18 which serve to resilientlyurge the circuit breakers into abutment with the shield'itl. In theevent that the circuit breaker portions 26 are not properly disposed inthe passageways 56', the shield may be pivoted to eliminate all spacesand gaps between said'portions 26' and the shield, the springs 18servingto seal said portions in the passageways. Before the screws 33 aretightened in the apertures 30, the trim member 32 may be adjustedlaterally to provide for the dcsiredvertical alignment thereof. It willbe noted that saidilateral adjustment of the trim member will not affectthe engagement of the circuit breaker parts 26. in the passageways 56inview of the pivotal relationship between the shield and the trim member32.

While I'have illustrated and described the shield 50 as being-.pivotallysecured to the inner. surface of the trim member 3.2, it will. beunderstood that the shield may be pivotally mounted relative to the pan14 for proper engagement' with the circuit breaker parts 26 Withoutrequir'ing it to be mounted upon the trim member. It will also,be-understood that any greater or lesser number of passageways may. be.provided in the shield, than as here sh.own,.in order to accommodate agreater or lesser number ofrows ofcircuitprotective devices.

While]. have shown and described the preferred. embodiment of: myinvention, it will be understood that various: changes may. be made. inthe present invention. without: departing from. the'underlying idea orprinciples ing. the frontof said box and a barrier member provided onsaidtrim member at the opening of said trim member and disposed" at apredetermined barrier level within said box, said mounting device beingbiased toward said front opening to position the electric devices atsaid barrier levelforengagement by said barrier member, meansforsecuring said trimv member to said box for adjustment relative'to-said.box, and said barrier member having an adjustable mounting relative tosaid trim member, whereby saidjbarrier" member remains in engagementwith the electric'deviceswhilethe trim member isadjusted on said box.

.2..An=. electric. panelboard construction as defined in claim 1,further characterized in that the barrier member is pivotally mounted onthe trim member.

3. An electric panelboard construction comprising a box provided with afront opening, electric device mounting means mounted Within said box, afront closure for said box comprising an open frame trim memberoverlying the front of said box and a barrier member provided on saidtrim member at the opening of said trim member and disposed at apredetermined barrier level within said box, said mounting device beingbiased toward said front opening to position the electric devices atsaid barrier level for engagement by said barrier member, said trimmember being secured to said box by securing elements which extendthrough enlarged openings in said trim member to permit for theadjustment of said trim member relative to said box, and said barriermember having a pivotal connection with said trim member, whereby saidbarrier member remains in engagement with the electric devices While thetrim member is adjusted on said box.

4. An electric panelboard construction comprising a box provided with afront opening, an electric device mounted within said box, said devicehaving a portion projecting therefrom toward said front opening, a frontclosure for said box comprising an open frame trim member overlying thefront of said box and a barrier member provided on said trim member atthe opening of said trim member, said barrier member having an aperturedportion extending into said box, said projecting portion being receivedin said apertured portion for access through the front opening of saidbox, means for securing said trim member to said box for adjustmentrelative to said box, and said barrier member having an adjustablemounting relative to said trim member, whereby the apertured portion ofsaid barrier member remains engaged with the projecting portion of saidelectric device received therein While the trim member is adjusted onsaid box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,360,374 Cuthbert Nov. 30, 1920 1,580,334 Rohn Apr. 13, 1926 1,601,606Waller Sept. 28, 1926 1,752,322 Adam Apr. 1, 1930 1,930,028 Adam Oct.10, 1933 2,044,860 Silverman June 23, 1936 2,183,872 Rowe Dec. 19, 19392,282,520 Jackson May 12, 1942

